Walmartian Tour, 2012 (reprise)

I’ve been accused of a lot of things in the past three years. Putting gum in Janet’s hair, planting a whoopee cushion in Sandra’s seat, and singing Buck owens’ “I’ve Got A Tiger By Tail,” at the top of my lungs until the bus driver was ready duct tape my mouth shut.

Sure, the wheels on this bus go round & round all over the globe, but there’s no way I’m singing “99 Bottles of Purified Water.”

Some people get to their destination and hop off, new riders get on, and the journey continues. One thing’s for certain, “We’re not there yet.”

If you’re new to Friday Flash Fiction, the driver of this bus, starting her 4th year of service, is Ralphetta Kramden Wisoff-Fields. If you’d like to participate in this exercise of madness, head over to her blog for step-by-step instructions. To view the FFF Hollywood Squares Authors Block click here.

copyright – Ron Pruitt

Their bags were packed and tucked safely in the storage compartment. His and hers spandex tights, pink stilettos, size forty-two thong underwear, weed-whacker shredded T-shirts, leopard print Cougar-wear, and two large bins of hair color, styling gel, and assorted make-up.

“A quarter of a million people applied for this year’s team,” said Bob Grossman, talent coordinator.

“The competition was extremely stiff. It’s not enough just to dress tacky or obscene. Bad taste and poor judgment comes naturally to some people, but sinking to this level requires hard work and dedication.

“We appreciate the Friday Fictioneers promoting the tour,” said Grossman.

In response to Ralphetta’s question, the 100 word limit of FFF has taught me analyse each word of every sentence in order to condense a full-length story into brain fart. The highest compliment I ever received was from former fictioneer, Linda Vernon, who once said, “Russell’s writing is tighter than Kim Novak’s face.”

Thanks to all who have read my nonsense and chose to click the “follow” button. And a special thanks to Ralphetta for keeping the bus between the ditches.

63 Comments on “Walmartian Tour, 2012 (reprise)”

I do remember this story. I mean who can forget a size 42 thong? Some mental images can’t be unseen. It has been a wild ride and I’ve never regretted assuming the driver’s seat….well…er…um…there was the time…or then…okay, so maybe a regret or two here and there. 😉

You’ve done an outstanding job driving the bus, even if we did have to scoot the seat up and order platform shoes so your feet could reach the pedals. Can’t wait to see you wearing to raccoon cap on the cover on your next historical fiction novel, “Call me Daisy Crockett.”

You have certainly painted some unforgettable images here. I love these lines: “It’s not enough just to dress tacky or obscene. Bad taste and poor judgment comes naturally to some people, but sinking to this level requires hard work and dedication.”

Russell, like a size forty-two thong, your writing takes fiction to places few can go. Your humor is more than skin deep, more than mere wise cracking, and more appreciated than you can imagine. Thanks for the laughs.

Congratulations, Russell. This piece has not only reached the hilarious level, but even the hilarious tacky level. That really takes dedication and hard work. I can only dream of such glory. It sounds like a jolly group to travel with. However, how anyone could sit for that length of time with a thong on is beyond me. Any alien capturing such a person must think it’s a torture devise. Well written. 😀 — Suzanne

I was already chuckling when I came to Bjorn’s comment and then it morphed into full-fledged laughter. Still trying to get the gum out, Russ, and thanks for all the laughs. I’m going to go scrub my brain of the monster thong image…if at all possible. Gum was preferable.

How you’re able to write these consistently witty and inspired FFF posts based on these consistently meh photos never ceases to amaze me, Russell. I think there should be an award for writing that is tighter than Kim Novak’s face. Call it the Russell.

I miss a lot of your references, being a Brit, but I never stop laughing when I come here. If it’s not your prologue or the story itself, it’s the comments that follow. I’ve no idea whether a size 42 thong is a good thing or a bad thing, but thongs certainly ain’t what they used to be. BTW, the dog was chuffed about the whoopee cushion; seems to think it lets him off the hook in some way.

Well, let’s start with the basics. Thong underwear consists of a strip of cloth approx. the width of your finger that runs up and down the butt crack like dental floss. Size 42 would fit an adult elephant.

I had to look up chuffed, and now understand why the dog felt relieved.

I’m happy that you find visiting here fun. Often, the comments are the real jewels.

Hilarious. I must say I’m impressed by your fashion knowledge, but I’ve been on board this bus for just over a year now and I haven’t observed any bad taste or poor judgement. Hmm, come to think of it …

This is the blog of a woman who is seriously on the edge and I mean right ON the edge…no, not there… just a little bit further… further than that…no, further still…just a tiny bit more… just move slightly to the right a little…no, that’s too much…just move a tad to the left…that’s right, just there…now you’ve moved too far to the left… Damn, what part of the ‘on the edge’ do you not understand? Oh, and her matricidal boy genius, come devil spawn.